Main menu

Tag Archives: Running

Over The Hump With Training

Yesterday I finished my last LONG run (20 miles!) in preparation for the NYC Marathon on November 4. It was hard, but nothing like fighting cancer. By mile 15 my joints hurt and all I could think about was the pain that these patients must be in at all times throughout the day. I can’t believe in 3 weeks I will be running 26.2 through the streets of NYC!

I really feel blessed to get the opportunity to be running as a charity runner for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). I am running for the MMRF because they are recognized as a leader in cancer research and budget 90% of every dollar raised to research. In fact the MMRF is rated in the top 1% of all non-profits by Charity Navigator!

The team and I have made a commitment to raise a minimum of $4000 for the MMRF. We have managed to raise $1080 so far, and with only 3 weeks left we know we have a ways to go, but don’t doubt for a second that we will get there. Thank you to everyone who has already donated, and for those who would still like to donate, we would appreciate your support with a tax deductible donation.

I woke up Sunday morning thinking to myself, I am going to kill this run. I knew that since I had done the 9 miles last week, that doing 11 was definitely within reach. I did the first 9 with a solid pace, and just as I had suspected, I slowed down towards the end. Still, I can say that I owned that 11 for the day.

The true test that day was not the 11 miles, however. When we returned home from visiting my grandma who had fallen ill, we were caught by surprise. Our plumbing system was a wreck. Without going into detail, let’s just say there were things in the front yard and showers that should have been in a sewage pipe. And that wasn’t the worse part of it, the toilet flooded our living room carpet and dining room as well. Since it had happened so late into the night, the following day was when we could get people out to check out the damage. Since it was all sewage water, our house now has to be totally remodeled in the areas that were affected.

Yesterday I was supposed to run 4 miles. With everything going on I could have easily formed the excuse that I had to get everything handled and the run was just going to have to not happen. The thought crossed my mind after I had called the demolition crew, the appraiser, and the insurance company. I was swamped with things that needed to get taken care of, and these were all tasks that were not on my typical to-do list. I still was required to make sure our newborn was taken care of and drop my other daughter off and pick her up from school.

I also needed to do things for our business and wanted to make sure that I could take care of anything my wife needed, considering she was about to come home to a totally demolished house.

I was so close to chalking it up and letting my excuse win, when it hit me…. People who battle Multiple Myeloma Cancer are not able to take the day off from their suffering. They can’t call in or use the excuse that they are too overwhelmed to handle it. Here I was using an excuse to get away from my temporary pain. We said we were going to train and run a marathon, and to cut corners on that would mean we were not running for the cause at all.

So as I laced my shoes and hit the door, I knew that the 4 miles I was about to put in was going to be over soon. My pain of seeing the house demolished would pass upon its remodeling. Our family having to stay in a hotel until the early renovation phases are finished would soon end. Everything I face that feels difficult in my life right now is all temporary. My pain is temporary.